We are fast approaching that time in the football calendar when Bristol City fans will be required to vote for their player and young player of the season.

A far from straightforward exercise last season, the selection process promises to be rather easier this time around, owing to the paucity of outstanding candidates.

Once again, Aden Flint has proved a model of consistency at the heart of the back four, playing every minute of every game of City’s campaign so far. And there has been yet another important contribution, both on and off the pitch, from club captain Aaron Wilbraham, who at 37, continues to defy those twin imposters age and weariness.

Read More

A much-improved player in recent weeks, Republic of Ireland international Callum O’Dowda is making a belated case to be considered as City’s young player of the season, while Hordur Magnusson made a decent fist of adapting to English conditions before losing his place in the starting line-up to Bailey Wright during the team’s poor run in January.

But there is one player who stands head and shoulders above all others in both categories. When City fans finally come to cast their votes, the name of Tammy Abraham should loom large in their thinking.

Bristol City v Burton Albion (Image: Rogan Thomson/JMP)

Recruited on a season-long loan from Premier League champions last summer, the rookie teenage striker came straight out of youth football, only having made two senior appearances for the Blues previously.

Ever since he announced himself as a second-half substitute on the opening day of the season, inspiring City to a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Wigan Athletic, the Londoner has set about establishing a reputation for himself that extends way beyond BS3.

Read More

An overnight sensation, Abraham hit the ground running, scoring 11 times in 14 outings for the Robins, a startling return which earned him a first-ever call-up to Aidy Boothroyd’s England Under-21 squad. And he marked his debut for the young Lions by scoring twice in a 5-0 thrashing of Bosnia and Herzegovina at Walsall in October, a result which confirmed England’s place at this summer’s European Championship finals in Poland.

When the inevitable barren spell arrived, it lasted for eight games, testing the young man’s reserves of character to the limit. But Abraham’s belief never once wavered and he continued to score goals even when City were struggling during the dark months of December and January.

Bristol City boss Lee Johnson.

Not even an injury-enforced spell on the side-lines could stop him, the teenager returning to action with a goal in the recent 4-0 defeat of Huddersfield Town.

Read More

His tally of 22 goals in all competitions for City this season is exceptional for a player of such tender years and experience. He has 19 in the Championship and, with eight games still to play, few will be brave enough to bet against Abraham overhauling Chris Wood, the Championship’s current leading goal-scorer with 22 to his name.

In short, there is no other single player who can match the Chelsea youngster’s consistency of performance or impact over the course of the season. So the message to City fans is simple – vote Abraham!